Five Things to Watch For During #SunsVsPelicans

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By Ben York, Suns.comAfter an inspiring victory against the Nuggets on Friday night, the 4-2 Suns again face the New Orleans Pelicans, this time at US Airways Center on Sunday. The game will be televised on FOX Sports Arizona at 6:00pm and fans can listen to the radio broadcast on Arizona Sports 620. Click through to see five things Suns fans should watch for during #SunsVsPelicans.

SynergyIf there’s one thing the Suns have, it’s chemistry on the court. Otherwise, there’s little chance they would’ve won four of their first six games. For such a young, hungry team the level of understanding they have with one another is certainly impressive. Their athleticism keeps them in any game and their increased effort on the defensive end allows them to play a fast, up-tempo brand of basketball. To be blunt, they’re incredibly fun to watch.

Defending DavisAlthough Anthony Davis didn’t have his best game against the Suns when they played earlier this month, Davis has already earned chants of “MVP” when playing in front of his home crowd – and rightfully so. The second-year star is averaging 23 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. Indeed, shutting Davis down as much as possible is the key to beating the Pelicans for the second time in less than a week.

X-FactorIn each game the Suns have won this season, there has been a player who has stepped up to propel the team to a victory. Against Utah, it was an amazing performance in the fourth quarter by Eric Bledsoe. On Friday night against the Nuggets, Markieff Morris had a career-high 28 points to lead the Suns to a win. This Suns team is already showing encouraging signs of chemistry on the court this season. That means on any given night, any player could step up. They’ll need that kind of production again when New Orleans comes to town.

Withstanding Scoring RunsThe Suns were out-scored 40-20 during the third quarter of their game against Denver on Friday night. Yet, they came back to win the game 114-103 thanks to a resilient, confident fourth quarter. The Pelicans will surely make a run at some point during Sunday’s game with all the talent they have. The key, however, is adjusting their own defensive schemes and responding accordingly.

Complete GameJust six games into the young 2013-14 season, the Suns have surprised many analysts with their exciting play on both ends of the floor. Still, Jeff Hornacek knows they are a young team and they can play even better. If the Suns can limit their turnovers, play lock-down defense and still shoot a high percentage from the floor, Sunday could be a fun night.